Andreu Saez was just a youngster when Victor Claver was helping Valencia Basket to the 2010 EuroCup title. But the then 6-year-old was thrilled to watch a hometown player shine on the big stage.
Saez appreciates support from hometown club Valencia
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And now Saez is full of pride to be himself preparing his local club to play in front of the world at the Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals.
Saez and U18 Valencia Basket received a wildcard entry to play at the 2021 ANGT Finals, which the city will host. Originally scheduled to take place as part of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four weekend in Cologne, Germany, the ANGT Finals were relocated due to health regulations involving the COVID-19 pandemic.
For Saez, it is another chance to face the best players on the continent: "I am very excited to compete against the best teams in Europe again. I am aware of the difficulties we will have, but our team is not afraid of anything and playing in Valencia is always extra motivation. My expectations are always to go out to compete, enjoy every moment and help the team continue to grow,” he said.
"Our team is not afraid of anything and playing in Valencia is always extra motivation."
Saez played the competition for the first time at the ANGT Valencia in December 2020 when he averaged 5.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals. And the 1.92-meter forward collected an array of lasting memories from the L'Alqueria del Basket facility.
"The memories started from the moment we came together at the hotel. And every day you see other players; have talks; experience moments in the dressing room - good and bad; have laughs with teammates; and talk with players from other teams," he recalled.
Saez’s best memory was the game for seventh place against U18 Nanterre 92 - an 88-80 victory in which he collected 11 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for an index rating of 23.
"It was the last game and we wanted to finish with good feelings - a way of thanking L’Alqueria for the effort it made for us - and the best way was winning," Saez said.
He said that he is very appreciative of having access to the state-of-the-art L’Alqueria: "We are privileged to have these facilities and to be able to train every day here and be attended to by all the professionals at L’Alqueria. I am very grateful."
The Valencia club means a lot to Saez, a native of Torrent - located in the southwest of the city. He grew up watching the team and one of the biggest highlights was in 2010 when Claver helped the team win the EuroCup - and Claver also was named the 2010 EuroCup Rising Star.
"Victor Claver has always been a role model for me. First, because he is from Valencia, but also because of his attitude on the court and lastly because I think that my qualities are similar to his," Saez said.
"Victor Claver has always been a role model for me."
Over the years, Saez was thrilled to watch the club win the EuroCup in 2014 and 2019 as well as the Spanish League for the first time in history in 2017. Among the other Valencia players that he has enjoyed following have been Ramain Sato, Nando De Colo, Sam Van Rossom, Fernando San Emeterio, Rafa Martinez, Bojan Dubljevic and Nikola Kalinic.
"I have had the pleasure of seeing them in games and training sessions," said Saez, who this season is playing with the club’s second team in the fourth division EBA league.
Altogether it means a lot to Saez to be playing with the club.
"For me, it means playing in one of the best academies in Spain, with the best facilities in Europe, with some very great professionals and a huge projection in all aspects," he said.
Perhaps with the help from the Valencia staff and facilities, Saez can become someone who turns into a role model like Claver was for him.